Vox Pop: Buhari Or Atiku, Who Will Be A Better President?

The 2019 Presidential election is fast-approaching, as various political parties have begun mobilisation for their candidates, but the incumbent President, Muhammadu Buhari of the APC and the PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar appear to be  the two major contenders Nigerians are watching out for. Aishat Oyebamiji, Adebayo Ogungbe, Yemisi Awe, Felix Ajayi and Toheeb Badmus went to town to sample people’s opinions on who between them can be a better President. Excerpt

The incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari should be a better option, not because the PDP’s standard bearer, Atiku Abubakar, is said to be corrupt as generally alleged but because, I have seen that Buhari has a lot to offer and he has good intention for this country.

Though, if the allegation of corruption is kept unabated, an average Nigerian would want to believe it and that might work against him.

Why I am supporting Buhari is that, something is paramount for Nigeria to be better, we have to go through a revolution and because of suffering in the nation, people are not ready for it. If you follow PDP convention, out of the eleven candidates that came out to give their aspirations’ speech, none of them made mention of fighting corruption if they are eventually given mandate, because almost all of them, convicted or not, are seeing to be corrupt leaders. I am not saying PMB is a saint, but there is a wide gap between him and Atiku.

I will rather go for a devil I have known for a very long time in Buhari, rather than somebody who is painting a picture of an angel coming in Atiku. Beside the fact that Atiku can not be a better option, the PDP does not have a good reputation in the governance of this country.

Some people are saying that he has the ability of create jobs, but if you go to Atiku’s university which is situated in his state, Adamawa, though, the workers there are being paid with a very good salary but I know that people working there are there based on connection, as no child of a less-privilege will have that opportunity. Beside that hardly will you see a citizen of that state attending that school because of its high tuition fee, meaning he has no preference for an ordinary Nigerian. So, as far as I am concern, Atiku is seeking position for his personal enrichment, meanwhile, the government ought to be the government of the people by the people and for the people

Also, during the PDP primaries, rumors had it that for each delegates, a sum of 5000 dollars was allegedly given by Atiku to each delegates, the same thing with other aspirants, that’s to tell you that these people are power mongers.

I will support President Buhari because over the years, Nigeria has been a country that has actually been destabilised beyond measure. For instance, to develop a car, it will take a long time, knowledge, energy, and different people coming together to share ideas in order to develop a single car. Now, if you are to burn that car, all you need is petrol and matches, meaning for Buhari to be able to correct the anomalies we had witnessed in the 16 years of misgovernance, it will take time.

Though, there are some challenges for the President, but I can see that he is not the problem, but the legislative arm, and despite the challenges, we have seen the commitment in President Buhari.

I pray and hope that President Buhari emerges in 2019, and with better legislative arm, I am optimistic that the result will be awesome.

• Olanrewaju Olamilekan – Student

Well, one can’t say which one is better because as Yoruba adage says, Onikun lo mo ka. Who knows the favourable one to Nigeria’s situation? Only God knows.

However, in a situation whereby somebody whom you’ve tasked with some particular responsibilities has failed and another man whom you think can actually fulfil what you need is aspiring, I think Nigeria should decide what they want, but as for me I don’t want to go with a failure.

I will rather go for Atiku Abubakar, because he is the largest employer of labour in Nigeria. He employs over 500,000 workers working for him even more than the proclaimed wealthiest man in Nigeria, Dangote. That means Atiku is actually a man who has knowledge of business and I know if he is tasked with ruling Nigeria, he will run it as a businessman. As somebody who understands what employers go through in private sector, whenever he gets to the public sector he will know what to do. I believed he will create more job opportunities for Nigerians. Well, many people are of the opinion that Buhari is not a corrupt man and Atiku is corrupt but in my perspective, nothing has actually proved Atiku to be a man who is corrupt. This is a man who has worked for the former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and during their era, Nigeria was a better place.

• Adeyinka Adebisi- student

In my own view, Buhari is far better than Atiku, This is because, Buhari has more experience, and has done well.

Atiku was a vice president during Obasanjo regime, meaning that he might not have been exposed to real governance.

However, since 2015 when Buhari took over governance of this nation, we have a lot of difference interms of development, fight against security lapses and corruption.

Many youths have benefitted from his government. Across all states of the federation, Buhari has created jobs for youths under so many platforms and I am not sure if any government has done it to the level it is now.

Since the creation of this country, no president or head of state has done what Buhari has done in employment generation. He is transparent and working hard to ensure that we get the best, especially the youths.

Lastly, nobody can deny the fact that Buhari has tried so well in the fight against corruption and that is a factor that would definitely work for him.

Only few people who are not ready to be sincere would say Buhari is corrupt, but you can’t say that for Atiku, an average Nigeria knows that Atiku is a corrupt man and if a corrupt man is put in the Presidency, we all know what to expect, corruption of the highest order, and that will take us backward.

• Ayodeji Oluwole – Busines Man.

Muhammadu Buhari as far as I am concern is better than Atiku Abubakar. He has done so much in so many areas in Nigeria.

For instance on the Boko Haram issues, Buhari has tackled it head on, though, there are still security challenges here and there.

However, President Buhari should focus on the price of fuel, because when fuel price goes up, everything changes, but if fuel price comes down, everything will be cheaper and normal. Many of Nigeria roads are bad, even though the government is working on them. If he can fix the roads, at least 60% out of 100%, I believe things will be better.

As far as I am concerned, President Buhari is doing his best, but unfortunately things have been destroyed beyond normal before his assumption of office and in such situation we must be careful in taking decisions that would draw us back. We have all seen that Buhari has started to do things that we thought are not possible, and that is to tell you that we have more to gain as we move on.

I don’t see Atiku as somebody who can make any impact, he would rather worsen the situation. PDP, where Atiku belongs was in the saddle for 16 years and we have seen what they can offer, but Buhari has not even spent up to four years. I think it is better to allow him to make the changes he intends to make.

• Oladele Taiwo

Buhari will be a better President of our country Nigeria. We’ve tested Atiku when he was the Vice President during Obasanjo’s regime but he failed us. He collaborated with Obasanjo to downgrade our country, they both sold our electricity and they didn’t care about us.   

We’ve also tested Buhari as the President and he has done so many things which PDP think are not possible. He tried his best to eradicate corruption, he doesn’t allow embezzlement and that is why the politicians who embezzle don’t want him to continue.

As for me, I believe Buhari will continue to be the best president for us in Nigeria because he’s always after our wellbeing and not selfish interest.

• Hon. Olaore Fatai, Politician

Atiku Abubakar will be a better president because this is the right time Nigeria began to remind everyone seeking the exalted office of the presidency that the office is not a prize to be won, it is a duty to perform, it takes the right leadership to know that it’s a 24/7 work that requires eyes on the ball.

One would have thought that after labeling former President Jonathan as “Clueless”, Buhari would have foresight in appraising our problems and tackling them head on, but what we have witnessed is like a first division football club threatened by relegation.

Under Buhari, we have not seen anything tangible interms of development and that is very unfortunate, because we expected more than what we are getting, hence, the need to test another hand and see what he has to offer.

• Jinadu Matthew Opeyemi, A Data